1 Gal Bottle Connected to Holding Tank

T

Texun

New Member
Jul 7, 2009
31
Conroe TX
Boat Info
1982 360 Express
Engines
Twin 454s inboard
First boat with vacu-flush and still learning soooooo much over-all, so thanks fo any help.

Boat is an '82 360 Express if that helps any, but we have the original system and can tell by the state at time of purchase earlier this year. The one item left for now in this area is an empty bottle connected to what "appears" to be a vent tube as it connects to the cap that screws onto the top of the holding tank.

I am wondering if this is for a deodorant of some sort, or what? I did read something on a San-X system that led me to think this may be for that chemical (Formaldehyde maybe?) that was used for breaking down waste before discharging overboard.

Issue is, can't seem to keep the odor down between pump-out in the engine compartment and cabin. So, for those that will tell me to empty the dam thing :grin:, we do regularly but not when only 1/4 full.

Suggestions, Questions?
 
Your right, that bottle is for the chemical that deordorizes and supposedly breaks the waste down and sanitizes it before you dump. The tube you see coming out of the top of the bottle should be connected to a small pump which pumps the chemical into the holding tank twice during each dump cycle. You can buy a chemical that does this from West Marine or you can order some directly from Sealand. It's called SanX Tdx treatment. It's not cheap, but you can get about 4 dumps out of one gallon.
Hope this helps.
 
You can get the additive on eBay for roughly $23 per bottle. I cut mine down to a 1:1 ratio with water. This makes it last twice as long. No oder on my boat at all. Even cut down it does a great job of breaking eveything down. I can pump out with others around an no one can smell a thing. Of course I do not regularly do that, but have had to in the past while troubleshooting pump issues.
 
As far as the odor between the holding tank and the head, there are several possible causes:

1.The head isn't holding a vacuum. If the seal on the toielt is leaking and the vacuum leaks out, you are getting waste air venting into the cabin.
2. The plumbing going to the holding tank has some low places in it that collect waste.
3. The lines leading to the holding tank from the head and to the pump out from the holding tank may be permediated (Dunno if that is the right terms for this application) with waste odor and need replacement. Smell the outside of the hose....if you smell waste, then consider replacing the hoses after you do the following:

A quick and easy way to clean up a smelly head system is to first pump the system out and flush the tank several times with plain fresh water. Then flush straight white vinegar down the toilet. It takes about 2 gallons and the goal is to saturate the system with the vinegar so don't mix any water in the toilet bowl when doing this. Next, turn off the head system and let the whole thing sit over night. The next day, pump the system out and flush with plain water. Get some Odo-Ban at Sam's and flush a cup full down the toilet when you re leaving the boat.

Every time you use the head system, i.e. whenever anyone flushes anything, be sure you flush a bowl full of plain water last so that it is water that collects in any low places instead of waste.

Hope that helps.............
 
Be VERY careful with what you use for keeping the smell down if you use the SanX/TDX treatment. The SanX/TDX treatment is formaldhyde and does not play well with other chemicals. Also, if you spill a little while putting bottle back in, you need to clear the boat and air it out. Don't get any on your skin either.... Noxious stuff.....

But in saying that, when used properly, it keeps your head smelling rather good, and not like a head or holding tank at all.
 
Great feedback guys. Gotta love all the knowledge that's floating around out here.

I really appreciate all the tips when I run into something afoul :smt043.
 
I have a 1988 340 Sundancer and have been trying to find where they hid this bottle for the last week. Anyone have any ideas? I cannot see it in the engine compartment and not where the first tank is located next to the hot water tank.
 
"It's not cheap, but you can get about 4 dumps out of one gallon." quote

What happens if he has the runs and exceeds this limit??:smt043
 
Ka1oxd said:
I have a 1988 340 Sundancer and have been trying to find where they hid this bottle for the last week. Anyone have any ideas? I cannot see it in the engine compartment and not where the first tank is located next to the hot water tank.
Click to expand...


If someone prior to you owning the boat has not changed your system for some reason, then it will be attached to the side of your holding tank with a bracket. Your holding tank is only 9-gallons (if you still have a SanX/TDX system).
 
What is there to changing the system? Is that a better route to go?
 
If it works, why change it? Otherwise you will have to find someplace onboard for a much larger tank. I do not see where I could fit one on my boat....
 
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